Israel approves 3,000 new settler homes as Amona evacuation begins

Plans for 150 homes in the settlement of Givat Zeev were among those approved on Tuesday

Israel says it will build 3,000 new homes for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank. 

The aim was to fulfil demands for housing and "return to normal life", the defence ministry said. A Palestinian official condemned the move and warned that chances for peace were being destroyed.

Donald Trump has indicated he will be more sympathetic to settlement construction

It is the third such announcement by Israel since US President Donald Trump took office. Mr Trump has hinted he will be more supportive on the issue.


The announcement came as Israeli security forces started evicting hardline settlers from an illegal outpost. Thousands of soldiers and police have been sent to Amona, which the Israeli Supreme Court says must be evacuated because it is built on private Palestinian land.

More than 500,000 Jews live in about 140 settlements built since Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.

There are also more than 95 outposts - settlements built without official authorisation from the Israeli government - across the West Bank.

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Tuesday's announcement follows on from the recent approval of 2,500 housing units in the West Bank and 550 in East Jerusalem.